Safety and Security – Differences and Similarities: A comparative approach

It has been found that safety and security notions are usually used reciprocally and sometimes they seem to have the same meaning. Thus, the current section of the thesis will shed light on the main differences and similarities of these two very important concepts strongly related to the quality of life level. It has been noticed that the security is often used ineffectively and not as a preventative approach towards safety. According to Eames and Moffett, there is an interaction between both, the safety and the security, but it has to be underlined that both of them are developed independently [47].

Anyhow, the scholars have documented the differences and the similarities between the security and the safety notions [39]. On the other hand, it is found another approach that stands with the idea that safety and security are a dichotomy and they can help each other adopting the respective knowledge or theories of each other [103]. Security seems to have some characteristics that have to be explored apart from safety. Thus, firstly, I investigate the meaning of safety, secondly the meaning of security and thirdly I will initiate a dissection emphasizing their differences and similarities. As such, the current section will provide a conceptual approach to contribute to the development of safety and security literature.

Safety is linked with: (i) the danger towards people or practical failure; (ii) the threat towards people seems to be caused in purpose or randomly; (iii) Also, natural catastrophes can threaten the safety of people [74]. The main core of the theories in safety science predicts that accidents can be prohibited in case risk analysis would be carried out. Safety culture and organizational flexibility are likely to prevent the harm that can be caused by different reasons [88]. Based on the mentioned statement, it has to be underlined that safety is not necessary linked with random or intentional accidents. As far as analysis or forms that prevent the risk can be carried out, it means that the above claims on safety fall.

During the past years, the researchers who worked on organization safety have pointed out that accidents happened because of limited studies on safety planning. According to Weick and Sutcliffe, people are the source of the accidents and the organizations should necessary project vigorous measures to overcome the “human error” [179]. Thus, it can be claimed that safety is strongly linked with human activities and the place where these activities take place. As such, the relation that individuals establish among each other plays a significant role in their quality of life.

Following the line, it means that good relations between individuals of the same group will increase the collaboration between them also will increase the reciprocity between them.

Security research seems to face a major change. Previously, security research has been perceived and explained by a set of ideas relying on tradition, principles, values, and norms [22]. Currently, in modern times, the classical view has been challenged by several hazards as well as new methods of addressing it. Also, the interaction between society and the new type of danger has been approached differently. By tradition, the security has been perceived to be both a principal need and a universal right. It has been pointed out on Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person” [22].

The security as science established a wide debate about (i) what security is, (ii) what makes us insecure, and (iii) how can we develop security through the research, the communication policy, the legal instruments, and the best practices [23] [16] According to Burgess [22] the meaning of being secure is still a challenge in the literature. On one hand some explanations define security as an answer to the national border protection, the infrastructure protection, the public transport protection, etc. On the other hand, security is perceived as a protector of all the types of institutions, democracy, economic well-being, etc. The definition of the security is wide, but all together they have a common purpose: making all these things to fit together in the first place in the society.

Apart from differences and similarities between safety and security as notions, as it has been discussed so far, this section focuses on the levels. It has been found that the safety and the security by meaning can overlap and be apart at the same time, but in very few cases there has been a comparison between them based on the different meanings of the safety. Thus, the table below will

help this study to better organize the differences between safety and security. The table was found in the Jore, S. article [88]. Anyhow, I found similarities between the Jore’s approach towards the levels of safety and security and the annual UN Human Development Report of 1994 where the concept of security was categorized in six levels (Please check the section below when referring to the UN Human Development Report, 1994)³ [82].

Table 3. Safety and Security – Differences and Similarities

Level Associated security concept Key features of security Individual Human security The individual, human rights Objects, buildings

and public spaces Object security, onsite security Asset protection, protection of public places

infrastructure Critical infrastructure security System vulnerability, cascading effects

Society Societal security, public security, homeland security

Ability to prepare for and deal with crisis, feeling of safety and trust State National Security Protection of borders, survival of the

state

International International Security International organizations` efforts to achieve stability and peace

*Source: Jore, S.H. (2017) The Conceptual and Scientific Demarcation of Security in Contrast to Safety [88] - (based on Collins [36] Smith and Brooks [157] and Zedner [187])

As it is shown in the table, the security is a multi-dimensional concept and it changes its features in practice depending on the situation.

3 UN Human Development Report (1994)

http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/255/hdr_1994_en_complete_nostats.pdf, the last access, 27 September 2020.